Srinagar: The Advisor to Governor, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai Tuesday chaired two separate meetings to review functioning of Higher Education department and discuss issues related to cultural centers for ethnic groups in the State.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Higher Education Sarita Chauhan, Special Secretary Riyaz Ahmad, Additional Secretary Dr Ravi Kumar, Financial Advisor Ashok Khajuria, Director Planning G M Ganai, Director Colleges Prof Z AChatt, and Director RUSA M Shafiq besides other officers.
During the meeting, the Advisor was briefed about the functioning of higher educational institutions in terms of enrolments, status of infrastructure, staff strength, NAAC accreditation and grants to colleges and universities through various centrally sponsored schemes, besides several other issues.
Khursheed Ganai also sought the latest on IIT, IIM in Jammu, Cluster Universities in Jammu and Kashmir divisions and construction of girls’ hostels in various districts, besides establishment of two professional colleges in Kathua and Ganderbal.
On the occasion, the Advisor directed to expedite filling up of 948 vacancies already referred to Public Service Commission and further ordered to refer 68 more post to the agency to address the human resource issue in the department.
The meeting was informed that presently, the Department of Higher Education is confronted by issues including rationalization of staff, creation of faculty for newly introduced subjects and completing of selection process of Assistant Professors by JKPSC.
The Advisor directed the concerned to start work on fulfilling the required parameters so that they could apply for NAAC accreditation at an earliest. He added those who are still lagging behind in renewal of their accreditation should do it as the unwanted delay would only result in stopping of funds from UGC.
Later, the Advisor also held a separate meeting regarding issues related to cultural centers for ethnic and State’s tribal population.
Threadbare discussions were held on restoration of old SPS Museum and functioning of the new one at Lal Mandi.
The Advisor directed for encouraging the budding talent including writers, singers and instrumentalists from across the State so that they could get a platform to display their talent.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Culture Mohammed Saleem Shishgar, Director Achieves, Architecture and Museums Muneer-ul-Islam, Director Culture PS Kakroo, Director Finance Lateef Ahmad, and other concerned were present in the meeting.
